Simon Ringer's exceptional achievements as a research engineer have opened new pathways for industry to harness novel relationships between the microstructure, properties and processing of advanced materials. Powered by his innovative microscopy and microanalysis, Simon's insights from the atomic-scale are enabling his industrial partners to develop stronger, lighter structural alloys that have economic and environmental advantages. His leadership has forged a world-class research infrastructure for Australia across a range of critical scientific and technological domains, which now underpin a significant industrial R&D capacity.